National park · United Kingdom
Stonehenge
Pay £25–40 to enter the roped circle in 60–90 min, or walk the free National Trust access land from Woodhenge or Amesbury for 2–3.5 mi and see the stones plus barrows, cursus and Avenue at no cost.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
20 km² (8 sq mi)8 sq mi (20 km²)
approximate
Established
1986
Best months
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
- Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
- Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
- United Kingdom ↗Most visitors who do not need a UK visa now need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling; this includes EU nationals. Irish citizens are exempt. Check the UK government site for your passport.
- United Kingdom ↗The UK is outside the EU and the Schengen area; a Schengen visa is not valid for the UK.
- United Kingdom ↗Driving is on the left; London has congestion and emissions charges for most vehicles, so do not drive in the city.
At a glance
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Area
- 20 km² (8 sq mi)8 sq mi (20 km²)
- The World Heritage Site covers over 2,000 hectares (about 20 km²); the stone circle itself is roughly 30 m across (check).
- Established
- 1986
- Best months
- Apr–May, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Stonehenge is a Neolithic and Bronze Age stone circle on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, inside a UNESCO World Heritage Site of over 2,000 hectares that holds some 200 scheduled monuments — barrows, the Stonehenge Cursus, the Avenue, Woodhenge and Durrington Walls. English Heritage runs the visitor centre and charges for the roped path around the stones; the National Trust owns and manages about a third of the surrounding land, with 260 hectares open to walkers. Most visitors see the stones for an hour and leave; the landscape around them is nearly empty and free.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1986.
Size and age
20 km² (8 sq mi)8 sq mi (20 km²) · national park since 1986
The World Heritage Site covers over 2,000 hectares (about 20 km²); the stone circle itself is roughly 30 m across (check).
Why go
- The stone circle is the most famous prehistoric monument in Britain, aligned to the midsummer sunrise and midwinter sunset.
- The surrounding World Heritage Site has barrows, the Cursus, the Avenue, Woodhenge and Durrington Walls, almost all free and almost all empty.
- Chalk downland that is one of the best-preserved accessible stretches in the UK, with rare butterflies and skylarks.
- Two nearby museums — Wiltshire Museum in Devizes and Salisbury Museum — hold the gold and grave goods found in the barrows.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanCold, quiet, short days; paths firm
- FebCold and often wet underfoot
- MarMild, changeable; fewer coaches
- AprLonger days, dry paths, moderate crowds
- MayWarm, green downland, busy weekends
- JunSolstice crowds around 21 June; book ahead
- JulPeak school-holiday crowds and timed slots
- AugBusiest month; dynamic prices at their highest
- SepWarm, quieter after schools return
- OctClear, dry, low crowds
- NovGrey and quiet; short days
- DecWinter solstice gatherings around 21–23 Dec; free access to the stones
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skylarks over the downlandMar–Jul · An RSPB red-list species, common here; the nearby garrison Larkhill is named after it. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
| Chalkhill and Adonis Blue butterfliesMay–Aug · Thin, warm chalk soil suits them; look on sheltered slopes. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
| Stone curlews on Normanton DownApr–Sep · RSPB reserve south of the stones; keep to paths and keep dogs close. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Grazing cattle on National Trust landAll year · Livestock graze the open grassland; give them room, especially with dogs. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Salisbury
The Stonehenge Tour bus from the station and city centre, or a taxi; by car take the A360 north.
30–40 min
From London
Train from London Waterloo to Salisbury, then the tour bus; or drive M3 then A303.
2–2.5 h
Open the page →
From Amesbury
Walk about 2 mi across country from the town to the stones, or take the X5 from Swindon or activ8 from Andover to Amesbury first.
40–60 min on foot
From Bath
Drive via the A36 and A303, or join a tour that stops at Stonehenge en route.
1–1.5 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor centre | Exhibition, café, shop, parking and the shuttle bus to the stones. | Ticket holders; car park charges may apply (check). |
| The stone circle | The monument itself, seen from a roped path with an audio guide. | Ticket and timed slot; no walking among the stones except on special-access visits. |
| National Trust access land | Open chalk downland with barrows, the Cursus and the Avenue. | Free on foot; dogs under control on some paths. |
| Woodhenge and Durrington Walls | Timber-circle monument and the largest henge earthwork in the UK, north-east of the stones. | Free; small car park at Woodhenge. |
Sketch map
- 1Stonehenge visitor centre · Headquarters≈51.184, -1.858Ticket desk, exhibition, café, parking and shuttle bus.Map ↗
- 2The stone circle · Viewpoint≈51.179, -1.826Map ↗
- 3Stonehenge Cursus · Trail≈51.187, -1.824Map ↗
- 4The Avenue · Trail≈51.182, -1.820Map ↗
- 5King Barrows Ridge · Viewpoint≈51.182, -1.808Map ↗
- 6Normanton Down · Trail≈51.170, -1.828Map ↗
- 7Winterbourne Stoke Barrows · Trail≈51.175, -1.856Map ↗
- 8Woodhenge · Trail≈51.189, -1.786Approximate.Map ↗
- 9Durrington Walls · Trail≈51.193, -1.786Map ↗
- 10Amesbury · Town≈51.173, -1.780Approximate.Map ↗
Take the points offline
10 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions across the World Heritage Site, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stonehenge entry, adult | GBP 25–40 (≈ US$35–55) | person | 2026 estimate. Dynamic pricing: cheapest Mon–Fri and booked online in advance; short-notice and peak dates rise toward £40. Includes audio guide. |
| Stonehenge entry, child | GBP 16–24 (≈ US$25–35) | person | 2026 estimate; under-5s usually free (check). |
| The Stonehenge Tour bus, tour only | GBP 16 (≈ US$25) | person | 2026 estimate; child about £11. Runs from Salisbury station and centre. |
| The Stonehenge Tour bus plus entry to Stonehenge, Old Sarum and Salisbury Cathedral | GBP 33 (≈ US$45) | person | 2026 estimate; child about £22. |
| Taxi round trip from Salisbury station with an hour at the stones | GBP 35–45 (≈ US$50–60) | car | 2026 estimate; cheaper per head for groups of 3–5. |
| London day tour including entry | GBP 85–120 (≈ US$120–160) | person | 2026 estimate; most allow only about 30 min at the stones. |
| Stonehenge access land (National Trust), on foot | Free | person | Free; you view the circle from outside the roped path. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Timed entry slot permit or guide
Inner-circle access permit or guide
Solstice access no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- £25–40≈ US$35–55
- £16–24≈ US$25–35
- £16≈ US$25
- £33≈ US$45
- £35–45≈ US$50–60
- £85–120≈ US$120–160
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on English Heritage — Stonehenge before you go.
Park rules
- Stay on the roped path at the stones
- No walking among the stones on a standard ticket; on-site attendants enforce the route.
- No camping on the open land
- Camping is prohibited around Stonehenge; use sites near Shrewton, Old Sarum or Upavon.
- Dogs
- Welcome on some National Trust paths if kept under control; not inside the monument area.
- Roads
- The A303 and A360 cut through the landscape; cross only at safe points and never on the A303.
- Drones
- Not allowed without permission from English Heritage and the World Heritage authorities (check).check
Where to stay
Near the park
Amesbury
Pubs, cafés and small hotels about 2 mi from the stones, on the X5 and activ8 bus routes.
Near the park
Salisbury
The widest choice of hotels, B&Bs and hostels, 8–10 mi south, with the tour bus to the site.
Near the park
Durrington and Shrewton
Village pubs and a touring park near Shrewton, about 4 mi away.
Near the park
Solstice Park, A303
Business hotel and a budget lodge by the A303 roundabout; convenient by car only.
Safety
Crossing or walking beside the A303 high
Uneven ground and open downland medium
Weather on exposed chalk downland medium
Livestock in fields low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The path around the stones is wheelchair-accessible, and a shuttle bus runs from the visitor centre to the stones.
- The visitor centre, café and exhibition are step-free.
- The wider landscape walks are on rough grass and earth tracks; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Walk or take the shuttle bus from the visitor centre rather than driving between monuments.
- Stay on marked paths on the chalk grassland; it is a long-running reversion project and rare plants and butterflies depend on it.
- Take rubbish away and leave nothing at the barrows or earthworks.
- Use the Salisbury or Amesbury bus links instead of adding a car to the A303.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Stonehenge?
Adult entry is about £25–40 (2026 estimate) with dynamic pricing: cheapest Monday to Friday and booked online in advance, rising toward £40 for short-notice or peak dates. Child tickets are about £16–24 and the fee includes the audio guide. You can see the stones for free from the National Trust access land a short walk away.
What are the best hikes in Stonehenge?
The Amesbury to Stonehenge walk is the classic: about 3.5 mi/6 km from Countess Roundabout past the Cursus, the Avenue and burial mounds, longer if you detour to Woodhenge. Shorter options are the Avenue and King Barrows Ridge, the Normanton Down barrow cemetery, and the Winterbourne Stoke barrows about a mile west. All are free and almost empty compared with the stones.
When is the best time to visit Stonehenge?
April, May, September and October give dry paths, longer days and moderate crowds. July and August are the busiest and most expensive, and the summer solstice around 21 June draws large gatherings. Winter is quiet and cheap but the days are short.
Can I walk among the stones?
Not on a standard ticket. Visitors follow a roped path around the monument. English Heritage and some Salisbury operators run early-morning or evening special-access visits that allow entry to the circle, and the solstices and equinoxes give free access to the stones.
Do I need to book Stonehenge in advance?
Yes for the best price and to be sure of a slot. Entry is by timed ticket, and online advance booking on weekdays is the cheapest option. There is usually some flexibility on arrival outside peak periods.
How do I get to Stonehenge without a car?
Take a train from London Waterloo to Salisbury, then The Stonehenge Tour bus from the station or city centre, which also stops at Old Sarum on the return. A taxi round trip from Salisbury station with an hour at the stones costs around £35–45 and is cheaper per head for groups of three or more.
Is Stonehenge the same as Avebury?
No. Avebury is a separate village and stone circle about 25 mi north, with a larger circle, fewer restrictions and far fewer visitors. Both sit inside the same UNESCO World Heritage Site, so they combine well in one day by car.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go